So I got an awesome idea for a character but I don't have a story to go with him. I want to write a long book (around 500 pages or so) but I want it to be totally original too. The character is portrayed by the world he lives in as a villain and for a lot of years (since he was born) he has believed that but something happens to him to make him question who he is and the choices he makes and finds out he can be a good person and still be who he is. The book would be about him anguishing over his decisions (or perhaps a crime he committed) and finding redemption in a way but not changing himself only how people see him. I want it to be a thought provoking book that shows you the gray areas makes you question your sense of right and wrong. In the beginning of the book I want you to see this character as pure evil and one that can't be saved, but by the end of the book be rooting for him and to identify with him.

Now my first thought was making him a vampire but the market is flooded with awful vampire stories (Twilight series anyone?) and I want to do something fresh and new so I don't want to do that, but I don't know what else to do? Maybe it's not a plot I need so much as a conflict for him?

Sounds like a complicated guy... the kind I refused to date before I was married. I'm bummed you don't like the Twilight series. I am actually going with some friends to go see the midnight showing. hee hee. I'm a geek. Have you done any research on creative and fiction writing? I took mostly lit classes in college but I'll bet there are some great self-help references out there for folks like you who are willing to put the work into a character they want other people to know.

Hey Jessica,
I got a story for you.

How about making him work for the power company.
His job is to pull down QUAKER NESTS.
He does it for yaers with no care or thought for the birds.
Thus making him PURE EVIL THROUGH & THROUGH
With no chance of redemption until.......................
He finds a tiny baby who fell into his pocket on the last job.
Something in him clicks, he handrears the baby.
Changes his life.
You know the rest.
He joins the QP forum, saves QP's and stops nest being pulled down.

Ok, its just a thought.
I liked the idea !!!!
LOL

Good luck with your novel.
Keep us posted.

Tricia

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up a minute!!! Awful vampire stories?!?! Edward absolutely stole my heart! I have read the Twilight series twice now and I am COUNTING DOWN until the midnight showing on thursday/friday of next week (5 days!!). I cried my eyes out every time I read the chapter when Edward left Bella. I'm totally in love with that series!! Basically, I'm a vampire junkie an Twilight is all I think about

Anyway, sorry about that. I just needed to defend Twilight

I think making your character a vampire would be a great idea!! lol what about a werewolf? You never hear about stories from their perspective?? Just a thought.

I'm not a total hater of the Twilight series but let's face it: a plain clumsy girl is the most popular girl in school for no apparent reason? Edward glitters, why? She has no moral dilemnas about being a vampire and once she becomes one, she (I haven't read past the first book, but I read she eventually becomes a vamp) doesn't have any weaknesses. I want to write about characters who are real and have strengths and weaknesses and bella isn't that...

That's a good idea about the Quaker parrots lol!!! Reminds me of the book "there's an owl in my shower" something like that happened.

And whats scary is on my notes about this character I wrote about him being a werewolf too! That is a really good idea and I like it but is it an original thought?

I have done some research but it isn't helping me with the plot...I think I'm a pretty good writer I just don't have anything to write ABOUT...

How about this one...
Picture a hard working, educated, fairly handsome man who knows all the right people. He gets around in the social circles he wants to be in, is kind of jaded but really popular with the ladies but inside he just feels like he doesn't belong. He lives a completely selfish life because of maybe a dysfunctional childhood (ie, foster kid who didn't have good foster parents, orphan, or whatever but becomes a self-made man). Anyway, on his way to a birthday party for some rich girlfriend (of which he has many) he stops in a pet store because he thinks it would be fun to get her a talking parrot. Inside the pet store he bumps into a young woman who is very pretty but not totally into herself. She isn't overly made-up, she has self confidence (he notices this as he listens to her talking with the petstore owner) and she has, on her shoulder, the cutest green parrot who just happens to be chewing holes in her shirt. He gets the petstore owner's attention and when this girl overhears him talking about what he's planning on doing, he notices right away from the corner of her eye that her spine stiffens and she's outraged. The responsible petstore owner tells him she doesn't have what he's looking for but he continues to pretend to browse and watch the girl with the, what he hears her call, Quaker parrot. Something about her is different from anyone he's ever met and he doesnt' know what it is. He notices her sneaking glances at him from time to time and she looks curious but she's way more involved in this little green bird she's rescuing from the petstore. Apparently someone brought it in off the street after finding it lost in their backyard. OK... maybe cheesy, but you get my point. He's totally self absorbed and wants something different for his life. He meets her and although she doesn't have the advantages of wealth and the social circle he has, she has something indefinable and her heart is generous and kind. She has a love for all animals as well as "down-and-out" people, but her passion is birds.
I didn't say it was a great idea... just an idea. hee hee. And it's bird themed too.

Hey Renee I totally LOVE THIS! It kinda souns like you the girl and Buttons on your shirt! LOL! I hope I find a guy one day that loves birds! Oh man if I don't fine Mr.Birdman I will be alone for a very long time!Oh well there are worse things! I like this one! Your great! Thats why I love you!

I'm not even goin to try & do better here...
I love Tricia & Renee's ideas


Nothin like an animal thrown in the mix to soften up the bad guy

Hi,

This is my first post since joining last night, so I hope I'm doing it right.

I thought I would reply, because this is a subject I actually know something about, whereas I haven't even gotten my Quaker yet! I sold a novel to St. Martin's in September, after many, many years of writing and rejection.

Is this your first novel? If so and if you want to sell it, my first advice is keep it under 100,000 words. Preferably more around 85,000 words. It's almost impossible to sell a first novel over 100,000 words and it gets harder every year. If you've already published a novel, you can ignore this advice!

Good luck,

Susan

Hey Susan, this is my first novel I'm 18 years old and I like to write a lot but I won't be happy until it's absolutely perfect lol I'll keep that in mind about your 100,000 words, otherwise I may just do a self publishing...I'm not sure yet, I figured once I wrote the thing I could cross that bridge

I really like the idea of making him a werewolf, not so many books out there from the werewolves point of view. I have to do a bunch of research now on them to see what strengths and weaknesses I like. I haven't decided how he gets turned into one, according to legends they can either be bitten or cursed, and cursed seems like the more creative choice...I also like some of the characteristics of Renee's character, mind if I borrow some for the human side of him?

Good luck starting out on your writing path. I would highly recommend finding a good workshop, writing group, or writing partner. There are tons of resources for writers out there on the Internet and there are some great writing books that can help with plotting, character development, setting, etc (The Weekend Novelist, by Robert J. Ray, is a good, practical first book to get). For me the best way to learn good writing craft was to critique someone else's writing. It's so much easier to see mistakes in someone else's work. If you keep writing off by yourself until it's "perfect" you won't progress nearly as rapidly. Oh, and the biggest thing? Learn to live with rejection. Really, that's what separates the people who used to write from the ones who are published.

Have fun,

Susan

Ok so how about these ideas.

1. His mom made a deal with the devil... blah blah blah.... he was born a servant for the devil. Living his days out by persuading people to make unsavory decisions. There's a lot of ways you can work that.

2. He's a notorious banks robber, who everyone knows as a low life, but no one really knows what crimes or sins he commits, he ends up using some of the money from his frequent robberies to make a charitable organization. Through the years he justifies his since by the charity, but finds that a guilt eraser only elevates his sins. After a conflict with some of his associates he ends up killing some of them, and throws more cash into the charity to clean his guilt. The problems escalate, until he can no longer contain his sins, and blah blah blah.

That's all for now, my head is busy processing a few things right now, but I'm sure more ideas will come out. Also I hope I dind't repeat anyone's ideas. I intentionally didn't read anyone's posts so I can get the creative juices flowing!

haha, I know it's definitely strange that she becomes popular, but it's not like she likes it. It's just because she's different than the other people in Forks. As for why Edward sparkles, lol, I don't know, it was Stephanie Meyer's dream which inspired the book!! But you have to admit, it's much more creative than the more popular characteristic of vampires in the sun, which is to burst into flames! I just love the impossible love story and the way Bella and Edward are with each other. And by the way, Bella does have a weakness, she's stubborn and, oh yeah, SHE'S IN LOVE WITH A VAMPIRE!! lol A Vampire who struggles not to kill her, until eventually,yes, she does become a vampire

I still think werewolves may be a good way to go...

I'd be totally flattered! Does that mean I get to hear all about it as you're going... kinda like a bestseller preview! How fun! I've never personally known a real author before (well, fiction anyway). Too cool!!!

Thanks! I really liked your character, and I thought parts of it could fit in with some of my ideas. And yeah as soon as I have something (still in the research phase) I'll let you read k? And I have a friend that doesn't let me stop writing he helps me with the creative parts too, he comes up with the best things!

When I write novels, short stories too, I always develope all of the charaters and their relationships to each other first. In doing this, your plot usually comes naturally.

I have been published but nothing on that level. I have submitted and written about 7 novels. I hope you get accepted first shot out as it would be a nice to have someone I know succeed. Most my publications are magizines articles and short stories.

I wish you luck. There are a lot of good books you can check out of the library that will teach you how to tell a story. The point of writing is to TELL the story not write it. Anyway Good luck!